Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-01-20


The closing session convened at o o'clock
Saturday morning in the high-school
building.
Superintendent Williams opened the ses-
sion by Introducing DR.. French, who in
vitcd the members to join In concert repeti-
tion of the Lords prayer, after which the
song ''Flow Gently Sweet Alton" was sung.
The minutes OF previous meeting were next
read and approved.
DR.. French then took up the topic of
class management, which he subdlvided
into-flrst, read for full meaning of each
statement; second, read for the related
meaning of statements that make point;
third, read for iull comprehension OF SUBJ
jeet or lesson; fourth, prepare an outline,
or write the points In order; fifth. rBad and
reprat for exact forms Of EXPRESSION. DIR.
French continued, ''nnhin the last ten
years have asked my pupils (of normal
SCHOOL,, whether thny had formed anv plan
of study. Out of 1900 only 10 to 40 had
formed any definite plan OF study.
Some of them, think, did NOT
know what study meant. suggest
the idea Of apportioning 10 minutes in the
morning and 10 minutes In the evening by
the teacher in showing pupils how to
study. Forty years ago teacher of mine
showed me In 15 minutes certain metbcd
of study. use that plan to-day. Teachers
should show pupils how to formulate and
plan. Use text books. Their paragraphs
are definitely planned and formnlafed
More practical good is gained irom this
than the requirement of certain study ma
terial. Read over paragraphs until under
stood. To be able to outline subject we'll
Is matter of great Importance. The
speaker laid special stress upon the subect
of "Steps in Glass Management" The iiIst
thing is recitation; the question Is who is to
reeite. Shall the pupils or the teacher do
~ Ash 81 faru nIlpoff0np ms ftnceihIo ma
first year ut school the teachers taIk
should be- six times the pupils. The second
year five times, and so on until towards the
last years of school life the pupil does almost
all the talking, the teachers part being
simply that Of guide. Let but one pupii
go through single topic. In looking for
authority when difference of opinion arises
upon any subject take the textbook for au-
thority. Do not place your opinion In op-
position to It before the pupils. Before an
pealing TO the textbook you may ask the
class. Let pupils teach when there is time.
that is in the sense Of correcting their
nelghbors. The next point is practice or
drill In review. Never accept a pupils as
sertion that he knows his lesson. Lot him
recite It. Lastly mark the standing of pu-
pills and assign desk work.
Superintendent Harlan asked the speaker
whether 1t would be well to allow pupils to
mark themselves. The reply was "dtinRer-
Gus dangerousl Lead us not into tempta-
ton" 81 knew certain school," con-
tinued Dr. French, "where pupils records
were found marked 1t6, 10S and 100 per
cent"
Prof. Ballet spoke upon culture of feel.
ings. He seid, to think about an emotion
does not bring about that attribute. Every
feeling involves an idea. A laugh or a tear
implies emotion. The only thing that can
snicker without cause Ia q high school girl
of sixteen. The Thought in the concrete
only 6impressts; the abstract story Of an
accident does not impress me. Homer
made the soldiers Of ancient Greece. In
the Had the Grpnk lads met courageous
men in flts sh s.nd hlnnd. That epic Is not
All abstract dissertation on courage.
When Professor Baliiet closed n recass
was announced. Dr.. French followed with
dissertation nf on Supplementary Work
in Arithmetic He said tho new departure
Is to set apart one day IN tho week FOR the
application of the knowledge ac.
quired during the week to mat
ters of daily life. This is called
the supplementary day. The speaker
supplementary work on arithmetic. Don't
come before your class without having col
lected materials. He suggested the follow
ing topics: Build u house, dig the cellar,
put In the floors, paint the building, carpet
the floors, paper the rooms, All this will
STUDY.
The secretary read the report of the com
mittee on neurology which was accepted.
President Baird reported the result OF the
spelling prize: Miss Emma johnson OF this
city was declared winner of the copy Of
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary Three
words were mispelled by Miss johnson:
Stereopticon, conferrees, seismic. The re-.
quest was refused that Mics Johnson's way
Of spelling them be announced.
MIR. Williams then followed In few re-
marks congratulating tue teaehersupon the
successful institute. He regretted that the
citizens had not aided the evenings enter
tainments better. The superintendent and
his assistant will lose $50 In the matter.
Charles Baird OF the Board of Education,
regretted that educational interests should
be so neglected. He considered the appro-
priation of &100 for institute purposes
entirely inadequate. Mr.. Baird promised
to do all In his power to help matters. He
thought that an appropriation of 81 600
would be little enough for the Wilmington
Institute.
He was followed IN a few remarks by l..
y. Jones OF the Board Of Education, by
superintendent Harlan and DR.. Keables.
vote was passed that In the sense OF the
members present (some 5000 Of New Castle
county institute that the appropriation of
800 was entirely inadequate.
Mr.. Baird suggested that a committee of
the teachers wait upon Senator McWhorter
and Representative Ware.
State Superintendent Williams and As
sistant ~ superintendent Carpenter followed
Votes OF thanks were passed to the In
struetors, the secretaries and the press. the
last for Its full reports, and, after singing
Home, Sweet Home" the institute was adj
1ourned sine die.